The Schenectady Foundation Announces $420,000 in New Grants

The Schenectady Foundation today announced nine new grants to non-profit organizations addressing a variety of community needs in Schenectady County. The grants total $420,000 and represent nearly half of the grants the Foundation will commit in 2006.

The Schenectady Foundation is a public philanthropic charitable trust, established in 1962 to promote the welfare of people who live or work in Schenectady County, NY. Income from the investment of assets contributed through estate plans is used strategically to make grants that help Schenectady area non-profit organizations serve people in need.

The Foundation intends to grant $870,000 in 2006. Remaining grants will be invested in programs addressing the area of Child Health & Development, with the intent to help children be born healthy, reach appropriate developmental milestones and enter school prepared to learn.

The new grants are listed below, along with a contact name for each grantee organization:

Bellevue Woman’s Hospital, Anesthesia Project

A grant of $80,000 will assist Bellevue Woman’s Hospital to acquire new anesthesia equipment to serve patients requiring surgery. The equipment is vital to the health and safety of patients. Bellevue has the only neonatal intensive care unit in Schenectady County, and is one of only three in the region caring for infants 30 weeks and older. In 2005 Bellevue provided surgical services to 3,270 patients.

For more information: www.bellevuewoman.org

City Mission of Schenectady, Dining Center

The City Mission of Schenectady will receive a $50,000 grant to assist in the completion of its new Dining Center. The Dining Center is a new $1.2 million, 6,500 square foot facility needed to serve the increasing number of people requiring food assistance. In 2005 more than 145,000 meals were served, as compared to 90,000 in 2002.

For more information contact: Michael Saccocio, Executive Director, City Mission of Schenectady (346-2275 x 302)

Capital District Community Gardens, North Schenectady Community Garden

A new garden will be established by Capital District Community Gardens in Schenectady’s Goose Hill neighborhood, thanks to a $20,000 grant from The Schenectady Foundation. The funds will assist in acquisition of a garden site, site preparation and fencing, equipment and management. It is anticipated that the garden will serve 15-40 families, including residents of the Yates Village Public Housing Complex. Gardeners will be provided with workshops in gardening and nutrition.

For more information: www.cdcg.org

Habitat for Humanity, House Sponsorship

Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County will be able to renovate a two-family house at 341 Schenectady Street with a grant of $30,000. Habitat anticipates beginning renovations in September 2006 and completing the home in March 2007. Habitat extensively uses volunteer labor along with sweat equity from the home owners to efficiently build or renovate housing that leads to opportunities for home ownership among low and moderate income residents of the community. A previous $80,000 grant from The Schenectady Foundation assisted in the construction of two new homes on Watt Street. For more information: www.hfhscny.org

New York Planning Federation, Modified Transfer of Development Rights

A collaborative project between the Town of Glenville and Village of Scotia will develop a plan for preserving open space, protecting environmental resources, promoting energy efficiency and efficiently using tax dollars. A $25,000 grant from The Schenectady Foundation to the NY Planning Federation, in partnership with the Community Foundation for the Capital Region, will support the efforts of the municipalities to adopt a modified transfer of development rights program. Such a program will enable the transfer of development rights from land intended to be protected to another area more appropriate for development. The result will be an increase in protected open spaces, while promoting denser, mixed-use development in the Village and Glenville’s Town Center.

For more information: www.nypf.org

Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson (PPMH), New Medical Facility

A $90,000 grant will provide support to relocation of Planned Parenthood’s Schenectady facility to 1040 State Street. PPMH serves about 5,700 patients annually, providing free or low-cost health care, counseling and education. The new facility will dramatically improve patient safety as well as operational efficiency. For more information: www.ppmhchoices.org

Schenectady Free Health Clinic, Prescription Program

The Schenectady Foundation’s $90,000, three-year commitment will provide medications for uninsured, low-income patients at the Schenectady Free Health Clinic. Many of these patients – more than 3,600 per year – have chronic diseases requiring regular medication for treatment and prevention of more serious conditions. Funding will not only assist in providing direct care, but help to reduce reliance on hospital emergency rooms for care. The Schenectady Free Health Clinic is staffed by 57 volunteer physicians, nurses and other medical professionals and administrative support.

For more information contact: William Spolyar, Executive Director, Schenectady Free Health Clinic (344-7067)

Umbrella of the Capital District, Independence at Home

More elderly and disabled residents of Schenectady County will be able to avail themselves of home maintenance and repairs from Umbrella of the Capital District. A grant of $20,000 will help Umbrella expand its services. Umbrella provides reliable home repair and maintenance services, employing retired workers to work on the homes of the elderly and disabled for a reasonable rate ($10 per hour). The program helps to keep the elderly and disabled living independently at home. Last year Umbrella served 480 homes, including more than 200 in Schenectady County.

For more information: www.theumbrella.org

Vanderheyden Hall, Children Cottage Renovations

Vanderheyden Hall’s $1.6 million Campaign for Children Cottage Renovations took another step toward completion with The Schenectady Foundation’s grant for $15,000. The agency is renovating five cottages to improve the living environment for its adolescent residents, and provide closer supervision by counselors. The renovations will provide a safer and more nurturing environment for children who have suffered from abuse, neglect, homelessness and related psychological issues. Over the past three years Vanderheyden Hall has served more than 80 adolescents from Schenectady County. The cottage renovation is expected to be completed by late fall of 2006.

For more information: www.vanderheydenhall.org

For more information on The Schenectady Foundation, contact Robert A. Carreau at (518) 272- 6402, racarreau@schenectadyfoundation.org.